Airplane landing light



lbeamdownwardly. Upon preparing to yPatented July :22,51930 UNITED 4sTA'rEs PA'IENT OFFICE SAMUEL W. HYATT, 'OF CONNERSVILIJE, INDIANA, vASSIGrNOR TO INDIANA LAMP COR- '.PORATION, CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA AIBPLANE LANDING LIGHT Application filed March 19, 1929. Serial No..348,235.

This invention relates to a landing light particularly adapted for use in connection with airplanes.

The object of the invention is to provide a suitable light for enabling the aviator to flood the ground directly under him wherein there is occasion for his landing other than on an illuminated field, such as to enable him to distinguish the character of the ground in casting about for a suitable area in which to land. In this position the lamps direct ioheir an provision is made to tilt the lamps so as to project a beam forwardly and slightly downwardly.

' One feature of the invention resides in mounting a light projecting lamp substantially within the under-surface of the wing of the air lane on opposite sides of the fuselage in suc fashion that when not employed for projecting a forward beam, it will not offer anywind resistance and will remain in position substantially iush with the lower surface of the wing, but when tilted to project the beam forwardly and downwardly, its position will be such as to offer a minimum wind resistance while at the same time allowing a clear path of projection for the beam without interference by therecessed portion of the wing in which it is mounted. This arrangement also eliminates the formation of any appreciable pocket in the wing when the lamp is in tilted position so as to interfere with the aero-dynamic properties thereof This is accomplished by providing a relatively shallow projecting A lamp pivotally mounted diametrically and forwardly of the face thereof as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and described.

Other features of the invention reside in thestructural arrangement and mounting of y the lamps in the wings and the mechanism for operating the same into and out of tilted position.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawmgs and the following description andv claims:

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical illustration of a side view of an airplane illustrating the position of the lamps in the wings tion. Fig. 3 is the same and the control mechanism therefor.- Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through a portion of the wing showing the lamp in normal posias Fig. 2 showing it in tilted position. Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational view showing one hinge.

In the drawings there is shown an airplane structure having a wing 10 and fuselagel 11. The under-surface of the wing 10 on each side of the fuselage and adjacent the outer ends thereof is provided with a recess 12 in which is secured the lamp housing 13 provided with the flanges 14 adapted to be bolted about the edge of the recess. Mounted within the housing 13 there is a lamp having a'shallow concave casing 15 in which there is'mounted the usual reflector 16 and a lamp bulb 17. The lens 18 is securedto the reflector and casing by the clamping ring 19.

The lamp is pivotally held in position by the outwardly projecting arms 20 secured to the housing V13 and the corresponding arms 21 are secured tothe casing 15. The corresponding arms 20and 21 arepositioned on eachside of the lamp so as to extend forwardly thereof and are pivoted to each other in a forward plane whereby, to tilted position, the casing will swing rearwardly and upwardly within the housing. The arms 20 are provided with flanges 22 to provide suitable stops for limiting the tilting movement of the lamp. In this position, the upper portion of the lamp lies within the housing and recess of` the wing while the downward portion thereofk extends downwardly at an a relatively small portion of the lamp projects from the surface of the wing vwhen in tilted position; and only a relatively small portion of the recess is left open,-the balance tlhereof being filled by the upper portion of the amp.

At the same time, in this position, the beam lwould be projected in the proper direction for landinggand the upper portion thereof lwill not be interfered with by the forward edge of the recess. l

For normally maintaining the lamp in its horizontal position, there is a spring coil 23. mounted on the upper surface of the housing upon the lamp being moved angle therefrom.l Thus, only l inwardly of the Wing.

ed with the outer The free end of the spring is suitably connected with the lamp socket 24. While the spring coil allows the lamp to b 'e tilted, it normally maintains it in horizontal position and returns it to that posi'- tion after having been operated.

For operating the lamp, there is a cable 25 having one end connected with the lamp socket 24 which extends through a suitable opening in the housing l2 over a pulley 26 and about a pulley 26 mounted within the wing. This cable extends through the wing to the side of the fuselage where it is connectend of the arm 27 mounted on the rod 28 extending through the fuselage, which rod is operated by the hand lever 29 adapted to be latched in operated position by the latch 30.

From the above, it will be noted that when the lamp is notl in use, the face thereof will lie substantially flush with the under-surface of the wing so as not to interfere with the aero-dynamic functions thereof, and will offer no wind resistance. In this position the lamp may be illuminated by the usual switch button so as o throw a beam directly downwardly to' assist in locating a landing area.

When it is desired to effect a landing, the aviator actuates the lever 29 tilting the lamp into its angular position for directing the beam forwardly and downwardly. It is locked in this position by the latch 30 against the tension of the coil spring 23. It will be noted that kin this position only a portion of the lamp extends below the wing so as to offer a minimum of resistance, .said position extending at a rearward angle which further reduces the resistance thereof. Furthermore, the cavity left by the movement of the lamp is relatively small inasmuch as the greater portion thereof is occupied by the upper portion of the lamp. At the same time, the lamp willV be so positioned that the beam projected thereby will not be interfered with by the forward edge of the recess. Upon releasing the latch 30, the coil spring 23 returns and maintains the lamp in horizontal ,position.

The invention claimed is:

1. In an airplane, the structure thereof having a recess, of a projecting lamp pivotally' mounted in said recess in such position that the face of said lamp extends. substantially 'flush with the surface thereof, a pair of arms extending outwardly from the surface of said structure on diametrically opposite sides of said lamp, and corresponding arms mounted on said lamp pivoted to said first mentioned arms, whereby upon said lamp being swung to tilted position substantially one-half thereof will -extend into said recessV and the other half will extend outwardly therefrom.

2. In an airplane, the combination with the structurethereof having a recess, of a prothe combination withjecting lamp mounted therein including a casing, a reiector in said casing, and a lens, said lamp being so positioned in said recess that the lens extends substantially flush with the surface of said structure, means for pivoting said lamp to said structure whereby the reiiector thereof will lie within said recess when in normal position andwill partially extend within said recess and partially out of said recess when in tilted position, and yielding means mounted on said structure for normally maintaining said lamp within said recess.

3. In an airplane, the combination with the structure thereof having a recess therein, of a lamp including a mounting therefor comprising a concave shell adapted to be rigidly secured within said recess, a lamp pivotally mounted in said shell, resilient means on said shell for normally maintaining said lamp therein with its face substantially iiush with the surface of said structure, and means for tilting said lamp against the tension of said resilient means.

4. In an airplane having a recess in the structure thereof, the combination of a lamp normally positioned Within said recess, and a pivotal mounting for said lamp, the axis of said pivotal mounting being positioned outside of said recess and substantially upon the axis of said lamp, whereby upon said lamp being swung to tilted position substantially one-half thereof will extend into said recess and the other half will extend outwardly therefrom.

In witness whereof, I have my signature.

hereunto aiiixed SAMUEL W. HYATT. 

